Endoscopic ultrasound
Find out what an endoscopic ultrasound is, how you have it and what happens afterwards.
This test combines an ultrasound and endoscopy. An endoscopy is a test where your doctor uses a long flexible tube (endoscope) with a tiny camera and light on the end to look at the lining of the oesophagus and stomach. An ultrasound probe attached to the tube creates sound waves to show pictures of the areas around the oesophagus and stomach.
Preparing for your test
You might have a blood test 2 days beforehand to check how well your blood clots.
Tell your doctor if you're having medicine that changes how your blood clots. This includes:
- aspirin
- clopidogrel
- arthritis medicines
- warfarin or heparin
- apixaban, rivaroxaban, dabigatran, edoxaban or betrixaban
Your doctor will tell you if you need to stop taking any other medicines.
You can't eat for 6 to 8 hours before the test but you might be able to drink sips of water up to 2 hours before your appointment. Your doctor or nurse gives you written instructions about this beforehand.
Talk to your doctor if not eating could be a problem for you. For example, if you have diabetes.
Your doctor will explain what they are going to do and you’ll sign a consent form. This is a good time to ask any questions you might have.
Having the test
You have this test in the hospital outpatient department. A doctor or a specialist nurse (endoscopist) does the test. A nurse stays with you when you have it. It usually takes less than 30 minutes.
When you arrive at the clinic, the staff might ask you to take your upper clothing off and put on a hospital gown.
You lie down on the couch and have an injection of a sedative. It takes a few minutes for you to become sleepy.
Then the endoscopist passes the endoscope down your throat. They can see the inner lining of the oesophagus and stomach and an ultrasound shows pictures of the surrounding tissues. They can see any abnormal areas and how big they are. They might also be able to see if the nearby lymph nodes are swollen (enlarged).
This 1-minute animation shows how you have an endoscopy.
An endoscopy is a test to look at your foodpipe, stomach and the first part of your bowel.
You may have this test if you have abnormal bleeding, lasting indigestion or difficulty in swallowing.
On the day of the test you should not eat or drink for at 6 hours beforehand.
Just before the test your doctor will spray the back of your throat to numb it. Or give you a sedative which will make you forget having the test.
A nurse puts a mouth guard into your mouth. Then they put a flexible tube called an endoscope into your mouth and down your throat.
This is uncomfortable and may make you gag. Concentrating on slow deep breathing helps.
On the end of the tube is a light and a camera, this sends pictures to a monitor. It also has a tool that can take samples of tissue.
Looking at the monitor they examine your foodpipe and then your stomach.
If they see any abnormal areas they will take a tissue sample –called a biopsy.
You won’t feel any pain and you will be able to breathe normally throughout.
Afterwards you need to rest for a while. Your throat maybe sore and you may feel bloated.
After your endoscopy
You need to rest for a while after the test.
You can't eat or drink for about an hour, until the local anaesthetic throat spray wears off. You might not remember much about the test if you have had a sedative drug.
You should be able to go home the same day. You can't drive or drink alcohol for 24 hours after having a sedative. You need someone to take you home from hospital and stay with you during this time.
Getting your results
You should get your results within 1 to 2 weeks. The doctor who arranged your endoscopy gives them to you.
Waiting for results can make you anxious. You can ask your doctor or nurse how long it takes to get them. Contact the doctor who arranged the test if you haven't heard anything after a couple of weeks.
Possible risks
This is usually a safe procedure but your nurse will tell you who to contact if you have any problems afterwards. Your doctors will make sure the benefits outweigh the possible risks.
Risks include:
- bloating and discomfort lasting a few hours
- a sore throat that can last for up to 24 hours - contact the hospital if you have severe pain in your throat, chest or tummy (abdomen)
- fluid going into your lungs from your mouth - this is a small risk if you have a sedative but your nurse removes most of the secretions from your mouth during the test to reduce this risk
- a reaction to the sedative causing breathing difficulties - your nurse checks your oxygen levels during the test and you'll have oxygen through a tube that fits into your nose (nasal cannulae)
- a very small chance of the endoscope causing a tear in the lining of your oesophagus, stomach or small bowel. You might need an operation to repair this.
